Eagles News: Nick Sirianni Is “Outdistancing The Crowd” In Coach Of The Year Race
What’s the current state of your NFL coach of the year ballot? Graziano: 1. Nick Sirianni, 2. Brian Daboll, 3. Mike McDaniel, 4. Kevin O’Connell. 5. Robert Saleh.
The last time we did this, I had Mike Vrabel at the top, but the way the Titans have played since has seen him tumble out of my top five. Sirianni’s Eagles have met every challenge and stayed at the top of the league all year long. Daboll and Saleh have elevated moribund New York teams into contention.
McDaniel and O’Connell energized offenses in Miami and Minnesota and elevated those teams into contention as well. I’m wondering whether Dan Campbell gets himself into this conversation if the Lions keep surging. Or if McDaniel tumbles out if the Dolphins keep sliding. Fowler:
1. Nick Sirianni, 2. Ron Rivera 3. Kevin O’Connell, 4. Mike McDaniel, 5. Brian Daboll/Robert Saleh. Lots of NFC East flavor here. Rivera splashes into my top five after the Commanders’ 6-1-1 run with a backup quarterback. Rivera’s job is one of the most understated of the year and should be acknowledged.
At least eight names deserve major consideration. What about Mike McCarthy? Reaching 10 wins by mid-December under the Dallas spotlight should be commended. And in the AFC North, Baltimore’s John Harbaugh and Cincinnati’s Zac Taylor have done solid jobs to keep their squads together, finding different ways to win. In the end, Sirianni is outdistancing the crowd here. The Eagles impose their will every Sunday, no matter the opponent, and that’s a credit to the coaching staff.
In my opinion, the Eagles have to put all of their efforts behind winning a Super Bowl, right now. I’m sure that their analytics nerds will dissect that debate from every angle imaginable, and it will be discussed among every department in the organization (front office, coaching staff, etc.), and if they feel that resting starters for two games to close the season is what gives them the best chance of winning a Super Bowl this season, then that is what they should do, even if it means that a potential loss to the Saints hurts their draft positioning with that pick.
Having said that, if they were to rest starters against the Saints, and then again against the Giants Week 18, and then have their bye during the wildcard round of the playoffs, by the time they play a game in the divisional round it will Lee have basically been a month since they tried to win a football game. There’s risk in the team losing its edge.
Personally, I’d probably lean toward playing starters against the Saints, and then hoping to get them out at some point during the second half. If a player gets hurt and it’s not season-ending there’s a reasonable enough chance that they’ll be good to go for the playoffs.
Brandon Lee Gowton:
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